Gas filling device and method

ABSTRACT

A gas filling wand for quickly filling insulated glass with Argon is provided. The insulated glass may include at least a first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass with a spacer in between, forming an internal cavity in between the sheets of glass. At least one entry port may be formed within the spacer. The gas filling wand may be inserted into the least one entry port and inject a gas, provide a vacuum within the internal cavity, and gauge the pressure within the internal cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/816,080, filed Apr. 25, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gas filling device and system and more particularly to an Argon filling device and system for insulated glass.

Argon filling processes consume a large amount of manufacturing time. The Argon filling operation is typically the bottleneck of an insulating glass fabrication process, thus reducing capacity. Most devices currently rely on mechanical setups to balance inflow and outflow of gas to not increase internal pressure which will damage the spacer seal.

Current gas filling system fill intercept spacer system units by one of two methods, using a single hole located on top of the unit, or using two holes located on the side with one located towards the top and one towards the bottom of the unit. Using current methods, filling through the single hole on the top reduces the filling flow and increases the cycle time of the fill. The second method with two holes located on the side causes issues with gas retention after the fill and prior to sealing the hole.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved gas filling device and system for insulating glass units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a gas filling wand comprises: a housing; a vacuum connected to the housing; a gas input connected to the housing; a vacuum tube protruding from the housing and connected to the vacuum; a gas tube protruding from the housing and connected to the gas input; and a pressure sensor.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of injecting Argon into an insulating glass unit comprises: providing a gas filling wand comprising a vacuum tube, a gas tube, and a pressure sensor; providing an insulated glass with an opening leading into an internal cavity of the insulated glass; vacuuming air out of the internal cavity and injecting Argon into the internal cavity using the gas filling wand; and monitoring the pressure of the internal cavity using the pressure sensor.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the insulated glass of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gas filling wand of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gas filling wand of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insulated glass of FIG. 1 utilizing bushings;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gas filling wand of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the insulated glass of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the present invention along line 6-6 in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the present invention along line 7-7 in FIG. 2B; and

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of an embodiment of the gas filling wand of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention may include a gas filling wand 15 for quickly filling insulated glass 10 with a gas. The insulated glass may include at least a first sheet of glass 14 and a second sheet of glass 14 with a spacer 12 in between, forming an internal cavity in between the sheets of glass 14. At least one entry port 32 may be formed within the spacer 12. For example, two entry ports 32 may be formed within the spacer, which may be spaced about 1 inch to about 4 inches apart. The entry ports 32 may have a diameter of about 2 mm to about 6 mm. The gas filling wand 15 may be inserted either directly into the least one entry ports 32 or through bushings 34 attached to the entry ports 32, and inject a gas, provide a vacuum within the internal cavity, and gauge the pressure within the internal cavity. The gas may be Argon.

The gas filling wand 15 of the present invention may include a housing 16. At least a vacuum 18 and a gas input 20 may be connected to the housing 16. A button 36 may be used to activate the vacuum 18 and gas input 20. The vacuum 18 may remove air from the internal cavity, and the gas input 20 may inject gas within the internal cavity. In certain embodiments, the gas filling wand 15 may include a vacuum tube 24 protruding from the housing 16 through an exit port 30. The vacuum tube 24 may be connected to the vacuum 18 within the housing 16. The present invention may further include a gas tube 26 protruding from the housing 16 through an exit port 30. The gas tube 26 may connect with the gas input within the housing 16. The gas tube 26 may include an opening at the tip, a plurality of openings on the side, or a combination thereof. The gas tube 26 and the vacuum tube 24 may be placed within the entry port 32 of the insulated glass 10 to quickly fill the insulated glass 10 with Argon.

The present invention may further include a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is used to gauge the pressure within the internal cavity. The vacuum 18 and the gas input 20 may be controlled based on the measurement of the internal pressure. In certain embodiments, a pressure sensing port 22 may be connected to the housing 16. The pressure sensing port 22 may lead to a pressure gauge. The present invention may further include a pressure sensing tube 28. The pressure sensing tube 28 may protrude from the housing 16 through an exit port 30 and may be connected to the pressure sensing port 22 within the housing 16. In certain embodiments, the pressure sensor may be within the pressure sensing tube 28. Therefore, the pressure sensing tube 28 may be placed within the entry port 32 to gauge the amount of pressure within the internal cavity.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 6, the housing 16 may include two exit ports 30. The vacuum 18 is connected to the housing 16. Within the housing 16, the vacuum 18 is connected to two large vacuum tubes 24 that protrude from the housing 24 through each of the exit ports 30. A narrow pressure sensing tube 28 may connect with the pressure sensing port 22 and protrude through one of the large vacuum tubes 24 and out of the housing 16. A narrow gas tube 26 may connect with the gas input 20 and protrude through the other large vacuum tube 24 and out of the housing 16. Therefore, each of the large vacuum tubes 24 may partially overlap the gas tube 26 and the pressure sensing tube 28. The wand 15 of FIGS. 2A and 6 may be used to fill the insulated glass 10 of FIGS. 1 and 3 which includes two entry ports 32.

Referring to FIGS. 2B and 7, the housing 16 may include two exit ports 30. The vacuum 18 is connected to the housing 16. Within the housing 16, the vacuum 18 is connected to one vacuum tube 24 that protrudes from the housing 24 through one of the exit ports 30. A large pressure sensing tube 28 may connect with the pressure sensing port 22 and protrude through the other exit port 30. A narrow gas tube 26 may connect with the gas input 20 and protrude through the large pressure sensing tube 28 and out of the housing 16. Therefore, the large pressure sensing tube 28 may partially overlap the gas tube 26. The wand 15 of FIGS. 2B and 7 may be used to fill the insulated glass 10 of FIGS. 1 and 3 which includes two entry ports 32.

Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 16 may include one exit port 30. The vacuum 18 is connected to the housing 16. Within the housing 16, the vacuum 18 is connected to the large vacuum tube 24 that protrudes from the housing 24 through the exit port 30. A medium pressure sensing tube 28 may connect with the pressure sensing port 22 and protrude through the exit port 30 through the large vacuum tube 24. A narrow gas tube 26 may connect with the gas input 20 and protrude through the medium pressure sensing tube 28 and out of the housing 16. Therefore, the large vacuum tube 24 may partially overlap the medium pressure sensing tube 28 and the medium pressure sensing tube 28 may partially overlap the narrow gas tube 26. The wand 15 of FIG. 4 may be used to fill the insulated glass 10 similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 but with only one entry port 32.

Referring to FIG. 8, the housing 16 may include one exit port 30. The vacuum 18 is connected to the housing 16. Within the housing 16, the vacuum 18 is connected to the vacuum tube 24 that protrudes from the housing 24 through the exit port 30. A pressure sensing tube 28 may connect with the pressure sensing port 22 and protrude through the exit port 30 adjacent to the vacuum tube 24. A gas tube 26 may connect with the gas input 20 and protrude through the exit port 30, out of the housing 16 and may be adjacent to the vacuum tube 24. The vacuum tube 24, the gas tube 26, and the pressure sensing tube 28 may be connected to form a single oval shaped tube with three openings. The gas tube 26 may be longer than the vacuum tube 24 and the pressure sensing tube 28. The wand 15 of FIG. 8 may be used to fill the insulated glass 10 of FIG. 5 with a single oval shaped entry port 32.

A method of injecting Argon into an insulating glass unit may include the following. One of the gas filling wands mentioned above may be used with one of the insulated glass mentioned above. The air from the internal cavity of the insulated glass may be vacuumed out and the Argon may be injected into the internal cavity. The pressure of the internal cavity may be monitored using the pressure sensor. Further, the method may include measuring the volume amount of Argon within the internal cavity and stopping the injection of Argon once a threshold percentage has been achieved. The threshold percentage of Argon may be between 85% Argon to about 95% Argon.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas filling wand comprising: a housing; a vacuum connected to the housing; a gas input connected to the housing; a vacuum tube protruding from the housing and connected to the vacuum; a gas tube protruding from the housing and connected to the gas input; and a pressure sensor.
 2. The gas filling want of claim 1, wherein the gas input delivers Argon.
 3. The gas filling wand of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensing port connected to the housing, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to the pressure sensing port.
 4. The gas filling wand of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is within a pressure sensor tube protruding from the housing.
 5. The gas filling wand of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises at least one exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor protrude from the at least one exit port.
 6. The gas filling wand of claim 5, wherein the gas tube, the pressure sensor tube, and the vacuum tube at least partially overlap one another.
 7. The gas filling wand of claim 6, wherein the gas tube protrudes from the exit port, the pressure sensing tube protrudes from the exit port and partially overlaps the gas tube, and the vacuum tube protrudes from the exit port and partially overlaps the pressure sensing tube.
 8. The gas filling wand of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a first exit port and a second exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube and the pressure sensor tube each protrude through at least one of the first exit port and the second exit port.
 9. The gas filling wand of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor tube protrudes from the first exit port and a first vacuum tube partially overlaps the pressure sensor tube and protrudes from the first exit port, wherein the gas tube protrudes from the second exit port and a second vacuum tube partially overlaps the gas tube and protrudes from the second exit port.
 10. The gas filling wand of claim 8, wherein the vacuum tube protrudes from the first exit port, the gas tube protrudes from the second exit port and a pressure tube comprising the pressure sensor partially overlaps the gas tube and protrudes from the second exit port.
 11. A method of injecting Argon into an insulating glass unit comprising: providing a gas filling wand comprising a vacuum tube, a gas tube, and a pressure sensor; providing an insulated glass with an opening leading into an internal cavity of the insulated glass; vacuuming air out of the internal cavity and injecting Argon into the internal cavity using the gas filling wand; and monitoring the pressure of the internal cavity using the pressure sensor.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: measuring the volume amount of Argon within the internal cavity; and stopping the injection of Argon once a threshold percentage has been achieved.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the gas filling wand comprises at least one exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor tube protrude from.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gas filling wand comprises a first exit port and a second exit port, wherein each of the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor tube protrude from.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the insulated glass comprises two openings leading into the internal cavity. 